By David Maddock
Brendan Rodgers leaped to the defence of Luis Suarez as a new controversy hit the Liverpool striker.
The South American was booked for handball during the 1-0 victory over Southampton and will now miss the visit to West Ham next week, after reaching five bookings this season.
It leaves the Reds boss without a recognised centre-forward for the visit to east London, and there was criticism of the striker after the game against Southampton for trying to score with the aid of his arm.
But Rodgers insisted: “If he’s handled the ball, then it’s probably just natural instinct. I didn’t see it clearly, but I’m sure it was instinctive and not cheating as someone suggested.
“With instinctive stuff like that, of course it’s needless, but sometimes they happen. He’s done so well to arrive at this stage without that extra booking, but there we go.”
Rodgers admitted a certain frustration at losing Suarez for such an annoying offence, but said: “I do still have people capable of getting goals.
“I’m not going to lose sleep because he’s not available. At least it means he will more than likely start now against Udinese. We’ll be strong there.”
